Pitcher's usually improve their control as they get older. But that's quite a jump. I'd assume he'd be back to normal (Meaning 2002 and before) since he'll regress to the mean and he's now facing a DH instead of a pitcher.

How hard was he throwing back in '02? I didn't follow baseball back then, but if he was throwing harder back then, perhaps his reduced speed has something to do with the improved control. Just a thought.